Tuesday, May 22, 2001
It may not be an Imperial plot, but producers of "Star Wars: Episode II" were left scrambling
after production footage from the forthcoming film made an unscheduled premiere
on the Web.
The BBC reports that the unofficial "Star Wars" site
TheForce.net had, for about 24 hours, posted a montage of scenes from the
unfinished sequel, including shots of star Ewan McGregor doing battle with
a light sabre, as well as new characters and other fight scenes.
Lucasfilm representatives told The BBC that the footage had been
compiled for Movieline Magazine's awards show. Ontario-native Hayden Christensen, who
joins the cast of the "Star Wars" series in "Episode II," was named one of the
future stars to watch, and Lucasfilm had assembled the footage to be shown at
the awards ceremony.
One of the spectators apparently secretly videotaped the presentation and posted it at the site, the report said.
Officially, Lucasfilm said they did not know why TheForce.net removed the video clip.
"We are not happy about it, and it is completely illegal," the Lucasfilm spokesperson told the BBC. "If it is put up again on the
site, we will contact our lawyers."
The footage showed Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) fighting side-by-side, armed
with light-sabres, The BBC said.
"Episode II," which does not yet have
an official title, is scheduled for release in May 2002.
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